The Department of Transport in the UK, now the Department of Environment Transport and the Regions (DETR) have been investigating various ways to reduce reliance on the private car, referred to as traffic restraint. This involves schemes that increase the cost of driving in congested conditions. Following extensive studies in London, Bristol was chosen as a case study to assess the impact of congestion charging in a smaller centre in more detail. As it is now accepted in the UK that road capacity in cities cannot be expanded to meet demand, it is necessary to manage that demand. A demand management strategy has three elements, firstly to discourage car usage, secondly to encourage use of other modes, and thirdly to minimise the need to travel at all. It is important to recognise that the three methods are complementary. This paper examines methods to discourage car usage, acknowledging that greater use of alternative modes is also required. Bristol, as with most other cities of its size in the UK, relies heavily on the private motor vehicle to meet its transport needs. Growth in car ownership and use, and more dispersed, low density development have combined to produce steadily increasing traffic congestion. Public awareness of the transport problem is continually growing, particularly relating to the environmental effects, and the sustainable development debate. The aim of the study, jointly funded by the DETR and Bristol City Council, was to research the options for charging for road use as a means of achieving the various objectives set out in the Avon Transport Plan. This paper describes the results of the study, and how they may affect transport policy in the UK, which is relevant to transport policy issues in Australasia. (A)
Samenvatting